I’m even surprising myself with a 4-star rating, but I truly enjoyed this movie. Though I’ve loved Sacha Baron Cohen’s previous offerings, I wondered how he’d make the transition to the creative force behind a major scripted comedy. (In 2004, he did make the fiction-based Ali G Indahouse: The Movie, which I gave a 3 out of 5.)

Immediate credit to Cohen: In Admiral General Aladeen, he has created yet another strong character, showing he can go beyond Ali G, Borat, and Brüno. And the lead cast is rock-solid: Sir Ben Kingsley remaining respectful in a rare comic role, and cute-as-a-button Anna Faris definitely holding her own with Sacha. Early on, the jokes are hit-and-miss and I was thinking, ok, this isn’t fantastic but it’s better than average.

Then I couldn’t help but notice the many comedy stars who agreed to tiny parts in this movie: John C. Reilly, Fred Armisen, Chris Elliott, Garry Shandling, Chris Parnell, J.B. Smoove, Nasim Pedrad, Jon Glaser…. It’s either a testament to the industry’s respect for Cohen or his dedication to making sure his movies are loaded up with the funny. Probably both.

And though every joke doesn’t hit, many do, and some hilariously so. Cohen is willing to go further than most comic screenwriters and performers today. Much further. There’s a level of absurdity that you just won’t find in other movies. This isn’t a by-the-numbers Apatow-light comedy film. There is a stronger, bolder mind behind the scenes.

Then there’s the ending. I won’t spoil it, but Cohen takes this movie to a whole new level. As per usual, he pokes fun at everything in his path—this time, Brooklyn-roof-garden-neo-hippies and Arabs and the war on terror and newscasters and China and countless other targets. But this time Sacha Baron Cohen firmly lets us know which side he’s on. It won’t thrill everyone. But it certainly thrilled me.